Screaming Tom

SoVo: Franklin meets with gay leaders

Cute story - but fails to mention the root of the problem.

The gay community is increasingly dominated by a few people forming a core
controlled by HRC. GE and Pride do NOT represent the entire gay community in
Atlanta - and many people are not strong HRC supporters.

So who can blame Mayor Franklin for no-shows at Pride and AEN. And the
embarrassment from the past HRC Dinner where Franklin presented Atlanta
Games, Inc with an award most likely still stings on her memory since she
was made to look stupid and uninformed for participating in that joke. (AGI
didn't win the Games, remember?)

The Druid Hills Golf issue falls under another HRC plan since one of the
members seeking benefits is also the partner of a leading national HRC
Governor.

I did campaign for Franklin a few years ago and agree she is a good person
with some past commitment to the gay community - but I do not see any
lasting support past the election promises. The bar issue is a disaster for
a growing metropolitan city and the gay tourism initiative now seems to be
an under-the-table payback (for a select few) for gay support in the last
election. The promotion was a complete failure, in my opinion.

What is really missing in the Franklin administration is a gay leader to
promote our issues - and not the self-important types like Freedman and
Narducci. We need open representation at a higher level with people who
actually make up the gay community in Atlanta. Former Mayor Bill Campbell
knew this and got it right. Franklin had that loser Gary Cox who ultimately
embarrassed her and the gay community.

posted by Tom Dempsey @ 6/14/2004